Saddle construction



Sept. 20, 1938. s. E. WORCESTER SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 24, 1938INVENTOR. I Kama a %2ZZ;, MKZM/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITEDSTATES SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Stanley E. Worcester, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application March 24,

- 4 Claims.

In the construction of Western stock type saddles having solid seatcovering, it has been found desirable to cover the space between thetree rails with a metal plate to prevent the leather covering fromsagging. In ordinary practice this plate is slotted at the side edges toprovide a gap along the inner edges of the tree rails so that thestirrup leathers could be looped over the tree rails and therebyattached. It has long been recognized as desirable to have stirrupleathers swung from supporting bars, positioned centrally, above thetree rails so that both folds of the leathers may swing above the railsand free from interference with the front or pommel D ring and otherparts of the rigging. While efforts have been made to provide elevatedstirrup suspension bars to accomplish this, I have found these devicesto be too bulky, too thick, and to require extensive blocking up of theseat bed. Further, no provision has previously been made for theattachment of a metal plate or strainer iron over the gap between thetree rails in conjunction with these devices. Aside from excessive costsof manufacture, the uses of these stirrup suspension bars results in awide, fiat top seat, and I have found that it has been practicallyimpossible to incorporate these bars in saddle construction and at thesame time produce a suitable, well shaped seat bottom.

To overcome the above objections and to attain further advantages inconstruction, I have produced an improved saddle construction which hasfor its objects:-

First, to provide a means for suspending the stirrup leathers centrallyabove the tree rails so that they will have a free maximum forward swingwithout adding undesirable bulk to the seat construction; second, toprovdie such a stirrup leather suspension means combined with a metalplate forming a strainer iron and adapted to cover the gap between thetree rails; third, to provide a stirrup leather suspension meanscombined with a seat bed plate which may be efficiently and economicallyapplied to a saddle tree with a minimum of under blocking; and fourth,to provide a combined stirrup leather hanger and strainer iron which maybe cheaply and efficiently applied to a saddle tree without undesirableelevation of the saddle seat bottom. Other objects will appearhereinafter.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the construction and devicesshown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a saddle tree equipped with my improved combined stirrup leatherhanger and strainer iron; Figure 2 is a 1938, Serial No. 197,903, (01.54-44) plan view of same; Figure 3, a side elevation of my combinedhanger and strainer iron; and Figure 4, a section of my device taken online 4-4, Figure 3.

Similar numerals refer to views.

The saddle tree is indicated by numeral 2.1 Its several main partscomprise the pommel 3, cantle 4, and rails 5.

As illustrated, construction of a saddle has just been commenced on thesaddle tree 2 by the attachment of my combination stirrup leather hangerand strainer iron 1.

This device is formed from a hat, generally triangular shaped body ofsheet metal, having a slight concave base edge 9, and a rounded apexiii. The base edge 9 of this plate faces forward and is attached to thepommel rise at about the mid dle of the bow. This portion of the plateis pressed against the tree so that it conforms to the contour thereofand is held in place by screws or large saddlers nails 8.

The rearwardly extending body of plate 1 covers the gap between the treerails forming a strainer iron II and is of sufficient length so that theapex reaches well up onto the forward face of the cantle. It is ofsufficient width to overlap the rails and receive saddlers tacks l2 in aposition so that they may be driven into the body of the tree rails andonto the cantle, being conveniently spaced as indicated.

A centrally positioned opening I4 is cut in the wider forward portion ofthe body of plate I. The front and rear edges of this opening aresubstantially parallel to the base edge 9, While the side edges l5converge forwardly. These side edges are formed by rolling the metal outto form opening l4 over rods it (see Figure 4). Thus these edges arestiffened and at the same time made smoothly round to adequately supportthe stirrup leathers without cutting.

In order to accommodate the under fold of the stirrup leathers, thoseportions of the plate edges on either side just back of opening l4 maybe blocked up by a wedge shaped strip of leather l8. Aside from this,however, the entire plate is attached directly to the saddle tree.

The material most suitable for the construction of plate is No. 26 gaugesoft steel, or its equivalent in other materials.

The pliant and flexible nature of this material permits the forwardportion of the plate to be shaped to the pommel and the sides to beshaped over the rails, forming the strainer iron. While, at the sametime, the rear portion may be bent up- 55 similar parts in all ward toconform to the rise of the cantle, as shown particularly in Figure 3.

My improved plate, when applied to a saddle tree, produces a structuregreatly increasing the strength of the tree, provides a strainer ironcovering the entire rail gap, and at the same time, affords a means foradequately supporting the stirrup leathers centrally above the rails topermit a maximum free forward swing. The position of the stirrupleathers is indicated in Figures 2 and 4 by dotted outlines II. InFigure 1 only, the left handstirrup leather is shown. In the latterfigure the position of the stirrup leather I! over the D ring 22 and itsrigging 23 is clearly shown:

The forward swing of the leathers, as;.usna'lly-- mounted, would belimited by contact of the lower leather with the rear edgeof=rigging-23'--'andwith the D ring 22. However, with both the upper andlower folds of the stirrup leather mounted above the tree rails, theleathers may easily-he swung to or. even beyondthe angle illustratedinlFigures 1 and 2. The round edges. I 5. of opening Mbecome, by meansof.the construction herein explained, stirrup leather supporting bars, and.

sincethey are. an integral .part, of the, entire plate and straineriron, which is made of comparatively thin material, it, is; obviousthat. no; extensive blocking: up isnecessary, in order. to, secure a..smoothly rounded surface on which to attach ,the:

jockeys. or. otheri surface leathers to finish the covering ofthesaddlel Having fullydescribedlmy, invention and. ex?

plained its method of use ,insaddle. construction, I .wish tobe limitedonly -bythef ollowing-claimsa Irclaim:

1. Saddle constructionrcomprising in combiner-- tion, asaddle tree,afplateafli-xed 1tothe sea-tabedr thereof, havinggmeanswithin itsforward portion; for supporting; stirrup..- leathers centrally abovesthe tree rails and a rear portion comprising a strainer iron plateadapted to cover the gap between tree rails.

2. In saddle construction the combination of a tree having parallelrails, a pommel, and a cantle, with a metal plate covering the gapbetween tree rails, and provided with a longitudinal opening in itsforward portion having side edges rounded to receive stirrup leathersand means for attaching said plate to said tree whereby said stirrupleathersmay be looped through the opening in saidplate with both foldsabove the tree rails.

3; A saddle construction having a tree provided with'vparallelarails incombination with a plate of thin material attached thereto, andpositioned over thegap-between the rails, the forward portion thereofbeing wider than the rear portion and provided with a centrallypositioned opening having the-side edges smoothly rounded and convergingtoward the front, forming stirrup leather supporting bars andrmeans forattaching-said plateto said tree whereby itisshaped toconform .to thecontour of, theseat, extending from a position on the pommel slightly.forward of the body to a po sition well up on the cantle, and blockingintermcdiate 'the. tree and. said. plate, whereby stirrup leathers maybe loopedv oversaid, supporting'bars with both foldsabove the rails ofsaid tree.

4. A combinationlstirrupeleather support and. strainer iron composed:ofpliant material adapted,'

to beshapedto conform to thecontour of a saddle tree seat, and,coveringthegapbetween the treerails, having means rfor attachmenttoosaid saddletreeand having an opening in :its forwardportionprovided,with forwardly converging, inner. side; edges. smoothly rounded toreceive stirrup leath-- ers.-

STI'AIILE'X' E. WORCESTER:.

